IT’S no use becoming the federal government if PKR continues to practise the feudal culture associated with Umno, said key member of Rafizi Ramli’s team in the party elections.

PKR Wanita chief hopeful Fuziah Salleh said PKR as the “backbone” of the ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition, must get rid of its “yes-man” culture.

She said this was why she supported Rafizi’s bid for the deputy presidency against the incumbent Mohamed Azmin Ali.

“We have a culture of being afraid to speak up. A ‘yes-man’ culture. This is all feudal. When we respect our leaders and love the leaders, we should not be afraid to reprimand them.

“This is what the reformasi team believes in. That this feudal culture belongs to Umno and BN.

“What is the use of PH being in power if we adopt the same feudal approach?” the Kuantan MP told The Malaysian Insight.

Fuziah, who is also Deputy Prime Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, is facing Selangor exco Haniza Talha from Azmin’s camp, for the women’s chief post.

Complaints of feudalism and cronyism in PKR have emerged as common themes among Rafizi’s running mates in the elections between September 14 and October 7.

In July, two PKR Selangor leaders resigned from their posts after alleging cronyism and nepotism in the political appointments of councillors in the state.

They were Sabak Bernam PKR Youth chief Abdul Mutalib Ahmad and Selangor PKR Youth secretary Syed Badli Shah Syed Osman.

Rafizi has also set the tone for his team to campaign on reforms and getting rid of a feudal culture when he unveiled his line-up last month.

His team-mates are campaigning on the slogan “20 years of reformasi” in reference to PKR’s founding ideals two decades ago, and have painted Azmin as someone who has lost those ideals. 

Azmin, the former Selangor menteri besar and now economic affairs minister, has not answered these claims.

Rafizi, on the other hand, is incumbent PKR vice-president but holds no other party or government post, and is not an MP after opting out of the 14th general election.

Fuziah said she worried about cronyism in the selection of Selangor local councillors, as alleged by a few people recently.

“Even if you don’t have a party position, one can understand the party’s struggles and principles. But what is the point of being chosen for a post when you do not uphold the party’s reform agenda?”

She said she was running for the women’s chief post which she held from 2000 to 2008 due to strong support from non-party members and even from Umno members whom she said believed in her ability to uplift women.

“They see me as an activist, as a fighter,” said Fuziah, who as Kuantan MP is known for her fierce opposition to the Lynas rare earth plant in the constituency. 

She said she would ensure that women are represented in the national agenda and in policies. – August 23, 2018.